Marketplace Morning Report for Monday, March 19, 2012

We're on the phone with Marketplace Shanghai Bureau Chief Rob Schmitz to talk about the fallout following his investigative report that led to this weekend's retraction on the radio program This American Life. Schmitz explains that while Mike Daisey lied about his first-hand account visiting factories in China for his stage play and radio story, many of the things he lied about have actually happened. Meanwhile, a debate in the Senate this week over extending the life of Export-Import Bank has aircraft maker Boeing in a tustle.

Mike Daisey made up the details of his first-hand account of dismal working conditions at Apple factories in China for his stage play and the radio program This American Life. But for workers in China, the issues are real.

Apple CEO Tim Cook said in a conference call today that the company would start spending down its nearly $100-billion pile of cash with a $10 billion share buyback and a quarterly stock dividend of $2.65 a share. We talk to Henry Blodget, CEO of Business Insider, for more on this story. Shipping giant United Parcels Service said it would pay $6.8 billion for Dutch shipping rival TNT Express in effort to expand its global reach. Plus, Ireland struggles with 14 percent unemployment, Greece's prime minister said the company is on its way to a recovery, and Yahoo! fends off an aggressive investor.